Overview
A lift plan documents how a lift will be performed: load weight, rigging, crane configuration, radius, setup location, ground conditions and personnel. For complex or critical lifts, detailed plans are standard practice.
Critical lifts may include lifts near capacity, tandem lifts, lifts over occupied areas or lifts of high-value equipment.
Good planning reduces risk and surprises on lift day.
The usual process
- Calculating capacity and ground pressure.
- Reviewing with the team.
- Documenting the plan.
- Selecting crane and rigging.
- Gathering load and site information.
What affects the outcome
- Accurate load weights matter.
- Ground conditions affect setup.
- Critical lifts need extra review.
- Communication plans are important.
- Plans should be updated if conditions change.
Local notes for the Pikes Peak Region
Wind along the Front Range, especially near the foothills, can affect crane operations, and lifts are postponed when conditions exceed limits. Altitude does not change crane load charts, but weather windows and ground conditions after snowmelt matter.
We take inquiries from Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, Monument, Fountain, Cañon City.
What to have ready
- Tell us who the on-site contact will be on the day of the work.
- Describe the job site: address or nearest cross streets, access route, ground conditions and any overhead lines, trees or structures.
- Note any site rules, such as general contractor requirements, safety orientation, insurance certificates or restricted hours.
- Share your preferred dates, working hours and how long you expect to need the equipment or service.
- List the heaviest and largest items or loads, with approximate weights and dimensions, or share the equipment spec sheet.
- Note the lift height, reach or pour distance needed, measured from where the equipment would set up.
- Mention whether you need an operator, rigging, delivery, permits or traffic control, or plan to handle those yourself.
Signs to slow down
- No written quote that lists equipment, minimum charges, travel, overtime and cancellation terms.
- Vague answers about equipment inspection and maintenance records.
- Unwillingness to provide insurance certificates or operator qualifications when asked.
- Quotes that change significantly on the day without a clear reason.
- No questions about loads, ground conditions or site access before quoting.
- No clear answer about who is responsible for permits, traffic control or site preparation.
- Pressure to proceed without a lift plan or site visit on a complex job.
Questions worth asking
- What info do you need?
- Do you provide lift plans?
- How are changes handled?
- Is my lift considered critical?
- Who reviews the plan?
People also ask
- Who prepares lift plans?
- Often the crane company.
- Do all lifts need a plan?
- Many companies plan all lifts; complexity varies.
- What is a critical lift?
- A lift with elevated risk, often near capacity or involving multiple cranes.
Related topics
- Mobile Crane Rental: How mobile crane rental works, crane types and sizing, site requirements and questions to ask a crane company.
- HVAC and Rooftop Unit Lifts: Crane lifts for rooftop HVAC units and equipment, planning and questions to ask a crane company.
- Construction Lifts: Using cranes for construction projects, scheduling and site coordination, and questions to ask a crane provider.
Tell us a little about what you need, and we'll get back to you about lift planning.